Bill to Combat Elder Abuse Gathers Dust on Capitol Hill

Jennifer Coldren said her grandmother became depressed and had a stroke after the rape in May 2006. She decided to care for her at home, no longer trusting the nursing home. A nursing home aide, who had been hired before a background check was completed, was convicted of the crime in March. It turned out he had a criminal record and would not have been hired if the nursing home had waited for the background check.

"Every time I pick up the paper, it seems you hear more and more of [abuse] going on," Coldren said. "I had never really noticed it before this happened."